Major Bible Themes

By Lewis Sperry Chafer

Chapter 22

SATAN: HIS WORK AND DESTINY

Two errors regarding Satan are current and since
he alone is advantaged by them it is reasonable to conclude that he
is the author of them.

1. Many believe that Satan does not really
exist and that the supposed person of Satan is no more than an evil
principle, or influence, which is in man and in the world. This
conception is proved to be wrong by the fact that there is the same
abundant evidence that Satan is a person as there is that Christ is
a person. The Scriptures, which alone are authoritative on these
matters, treat one to be a person as much as the other, and if the
personality of Christ is accepted on the testimony of the Bible, the
personality of Satan must also be accepted on the same testimony.

2. Likewise, others believe that Satan is the direct cause of sin
in every person. This impression is not true (1) because Satan is
not aiming to promote sin in the world. He did not purpose to be a
fiend, but rather to be "like the most High" (Isa 14:14); he is not
aiming to destroy, so much as he is to construct, and to realize his
own ambition for authority over this world system, which system
proposes culture, morality, and religion (2Co 11:13-15). The
impression that Satan is the direct cause of sin is not true (2)
because human sin is said to come directly from the fallen human
heart (Mar 7:18-23; Jam 1:13-16; Gen 6:5).

I. THE WORK OF SATAN

The following are only a few of the many passages bearing on the
work of Satan:

Isa 14:12-17. This passage reveals Satan's original and supreme
purpose. He would ascend into Heaven, exalt his throne above the
stars of God, and be like the most High. To this end he will use his
unmeasured wisdom and power; he will weaken the nations, make the
earth to tremble, make the world as a wilderness, destroy the cities
thereof, and refuse to release his prisoners. Though every phrase of
this passage is a startling disclosure, two in particular may be
noted:

1. "I will he like the most High." As recorded in the
Scriptures, the activities of Satan following his moral fall can be
traced only in the line of this supreme motive. It was this purpose
which in all seriousness he recommended to Adam and Eve (Gen 3:5),
and they, by adopting Satan's ideal, became self-centered,
self-sufficient, and independent of God. This attitude on the part
of Adam and Eve became their very nature and has been transmitted to
all their posterity to the extent that their posterity are called
the "children of wrath" (Eph 2:3; Eph 5:6; Rom 1:18), they must be
born again (Joh 3:3), and, when saved, have a struggle to be yielded
wholly to the will of God. Again, Satan's desire to be "like the
most High" is seen in his passion to be worshiped by Christ (Luk
4:5-7). When the Man of Sin enters the holy place and is worshiped
as God (2Th 2:3, 2Th 2:4; Dan 9:27; Mat 24:15; Rev 13:4-8), for a
brief moment, Satan's supreme desire will be realized under the
permissive will of God.

2. He "opened not the house of his prisoners." The entire
prophecy from which this phrase is taken is concerning the work of
Satan as it will have been completed in the days of his final
judgment. Doubtless there is a larger fulfillment yet future;
however, we know that Satan is now doing all in his power to keep
the unsaved from being delivered from the power of darkness and
translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col 1:13). Satan is
the one who energizes the children of disobedience (Eph 2:2), blinds
the minds of the unsaved lest the light of the Gospel shall reach
them (2Co 4:3-4), and holds the unconscious world in his arms (1Jo
5:19, R.V.).

It is also revealed that Satan in his warfare will counterfeit
the things of God, which undertaking will likewise be in accord with
his purpose to be "like the most High." He will promote extensive
religious systems (1Ti 4:1-3; 2Co 11:13-15). In this connection, it
should be observed that Satan can promote forms of religion which
are based on selected Bible texts, which elevate Christ as the
leader, and which incorporate every phase of the Christian faith
excepting one -- the doctrine of salvation by grace alone on the
ground of the shed blood of Christ. Such satanic delusions are now
in the world and multitudes are being deceived by them. Such false
systems are always to be tested by the attitude they take toward the
saving grace of God through the efficacious blood of Christ (Rev
12:11).

Satan's enmity is evidently against God alone. He is in no way at
enmity with the unsaved, and when he aims his "fiery darts" at the
children of God, he attacks them only because of the fact that they
are indwelt by the divine nature, and through them he is enabled to
secure a thrust at God.

Likewise, the attack against the children of God is not in the
sphere of "flesh and blood," but in the sphere of their heavenly
association with Christ. That is, the believer may not be drawn away
into immorality, but he may utterly fail in prayer, in testimony and
in spiritual victory. Such failure, it should be seen, is as much
defeat and dishonor in the sight of God as those sins which are
freely condemned by the world.

II. THE DESTINY OF SATAN

As the Word of God is explicit regarding the origin of Satan, so
it is explicit regarding his career and destiny. Five progressive
judgments of Satan are to be distinguished:

1. Satan's Moral Fall.

Though the time in the dateless past is not disclosed, Satan's
moral fall, with its necessary separation from God, is clearly
indicated (Eze 28:15; 1Ti 3:6). It is evident, however, that he did
not lose his heavenly position, the larger portion of his power, or
his access to God.

2. Satan's Judgment through the Cross.

Through the cross a perfect judgment has been secured (Joh 12:31;
Joh 16:11; Col 2:14, Col 2:15), but the execution of that sentence
is yet future. This sentence with its execution was predicted in the
Garden of Eden (Gen 3:15).

3. Satan will be cast out of Heaven.

In the midst of the coming Tribulation and as a result of a war
in Heaven, Satan will be cast out of Heaven and be limited to the
earth. He will then act in great wrath knowing that he has but a
short time to continue (Rev 12:7-12. Note, also, Isa 14:12; Luk
10:18).

4. Satan will be confined, to the Abyss.

For the thousand-year reign of Christ upon the earth, Satan will
be sealed in the abyss, after which he must be loosed for a "little
season" (Rev 20:1-3, Rev 20:7).

5. Satan's Final Doom.

Having promoted an open rebellion against God during the "little
season," Satan is then cast into the lake of fire to be tormented
day and night for ever and ever (Rev 20:10).

QUESTIONS

1. What are the two general errors regarding Satan?

2. Give the evidence from the Scriptures that Satan exists as a
person.

3. What is Satan's supreme motive?

4. From what source does human sin arise?

5. What are the outstanding facts regarding Satan as recorded
in Isa 14:12-17?

6. Whom is Satan seeking to imitate?

7. Trace his passion to be like the Most High in two events of
history and one of prophecy.

8. What is Satan's attitude toward the unsaved as to their
salvation?

9. How does he accomplish his ends?

10. What undertakings are predicted for Satan, in his
counterfeiting the truth of God?